Infant

Infant Overview

Throughout the day, all eyes will be on your little one. With the incredibly low 1:3 teacher:child ratio your infant will have their needs met quickly and enjoy focused attention. Our stimulating and safe environment allows infants to learn, play and grow.

Our staff strive to provide a positive and nurturing environment for the little ones - encouraging the children to interact, communicating often with parents and leveraging the many gifts our campus provides. Outdoor experiences including use of the Outdoor Learning Center and buggy rides on campus, being rocked to sleep, individualized learning and so much more await your infant.

Communication with parents is critical to each child’s development. Our goal is to work together with parents to foster growth in all areas of development. Daily communication includes discussing daily routine, events of the day and ensuring we are meeting the needs of your child.

During your child’s time in the Infant room, you can expect the staff to complete developmental information sheets and bi-annually share a more formal evaluation of your child’s growth and successes!

+ Daily Schedule

6:30 – 9:00

Drop-off – Free Play

9:00 – 10:00

Breakfast – Diaper changes, Nap-time (as needed)

10:00 – 12:00

Floor time play, outside time, buggy ride (if possible)

12:00 – 1:00

Lunch – Diaper changes

1:00 – 3:00

Nap-time (as needed)

3:00 – 4:00

Finger paint, books, and songs

4:00 – 6:00

Snack – Diaper changes Pick-up - Free Play

This schedule is used as a general guideline throughout the day. Each child’s schedule and needs are different. We will adapt the above schedule to individually meet these needs.

+ You can expect…

Nurturing staff

All infants receive one-on-one time throughout the day, in addition to group play time. Crying children are attended to as soon as possible. Children are held and rocked to sleep unless parents request otherwise, and all infants are held when taking a bottle. Babies are not left in their crib after they are awake. Each child is appreciated and loved as an individual with his or her own characteristics.

Safety first

All toys and equipment in the infant room are age appropriate, checked regularly for damage, and cleaned regularly. Small objects, medicine, and cleaning supplies are kept out of reach. All staff is trained in CPR and First Aid.

A positive learning experience

The staff works together to create successful experiences for the children. We strive to direct children to positive behaviors using positive words and actions. “No” and “Don’t” are used for safety issues only. Daily individualized activities are planned for each infant to meet their unique developmental needs.

Encouraging fine & gross motor skills and cognitive development

Fine motor development is encouraged by the use of shape sorters, stacking cups, linking toys and other small manipulative toys. Gross motor activities include clapping, throwing, rolling or kicking a ball, stacking blocks, pushing cars, pull and push toys, climbing and sliding. The staff tries to assist in these skills as much or as little as needed.

Cognitive skills are developed by providing opportunities for object permanence games, (peek-a-boo, where’s the toy etc.), cause and effect practice (busy boxes, jack-in- the-box etc.) and early problem solving (how can I reach that?). The staff teaches infants association between words and pictures.

Positive social interaction

Our attentive staff encourage socialize through enthusiastic interaction with infants throughout the day. Very young infants learn quickly to smile at faces both in response to interaction, and to bring about interaction. Infants gradually begin to recognize other children and playmates. Our group time(s) helps develop this. Children are encouraged to be gentle with each other in play.

Foster independent eating

Self-help skills are encouraged in eating. The children are provided finger foods in easily managed sizes and are guided in the use of plates, bowls, spoons and tippy cups.

Environment to foster language development.

Language development is encouraged both directly and indirectly. Language is taught through use of books, sign language, picture cards, songs and finger plays in the classroom.

The older infants are encouraged to use language in their daily activities by using words like “more, mine, up etc.” Language is also taught indirectly through play and routine activities. The adults talk to the infants as they go about their activities and respond to the infants’ verbalizations.